When we think about a funeral, many of us picture something quite traditional: a hearse, a formal service, black clothing, flowers and a gathering afterwards. But funerals have changed and continue to do so.
Across the UK, families are increasingly choosing funerals that feel more personal, more flexible and, sometimes, much simpler. In 2026, celebrations of life are now more common than traditionally structured farewells, while direct cremations, no matter what your views of them are, continue to grow in popularity.
Here in Buckfastleigh and Totnes, there is perhaps something particularly natural about that change, and you could argue that we’re ahead of the curve, and have been for a while. We live in a place where community, landscape and individuality matter. Why wouldn’t we embrace these elements and significant parts of life, in death too? A funeral doesn't necessarily have to follow a set pattern. It can be as unique as the person whose life it celebrates.
What does a modern funeral look like?
There isn't really one answer.
A modern funeral might be a traditional church service followed by a burial or cremation. It might be a simple gathering with a few close family members. It could be a celebration of life with favourite music, photographs and stories, or a quiet natural burial surrounded by the South Hams countryside. It could also be a rave on a farm.
Increasingly, we’re aware of families and friends feeling able to ask: “What would feel right for this person and for us?”
That question can open up possibilities that perhaps wouldn't have been considered in the past.
Music can be chosen because it reminds everyone of a particular time or place. Someone might wear bright colours rather than black. A family member or close friend might lead the ceremony. Children and grandchildren might take an active part. A favourite poem, piece of music or story can say something about a person in a way that formal words sometimes cannot. We’ve held funerals where the formal part of a service has been paused temporarily in order to hold a crafting session in honour of the person who’d died, before resuming the final part of the funeral service.
And sometimes, the most meaningful funeral is a very simple one.
A modern, personal goodbye
One of the clearest changes in recent years has been the move towards more personalised funerals.
SunLife's 2026 research found that 58% of funeral send-offs were described as celebrations of life. Families are increasingly finding ways to reflect the individual personality, interests and wishes of the person who has died.
For us, personalisation isn't about making a funeral unusual for the sake of it. It's about choice and making it appropriate.
For one family, that might mean a quiet service in South Brent village church. For another, it could mean gathering somewhere informal, like The River Shack in Stoke Gabriel to share food, music and memories. Someone who loved walking might have their ashes returned to a favourite place. Someone who treasured their garden might be remembered amongst flowers and trees, in their own garden, perhaps.
There is no prize for having the most elaborate funeral. What matters is that it feels like the right farewell.
A funeral connected to the landscape
Living in South Devon, we’re fortunate to have beautiful natural spaces around us, and for some families, the landscape becomes an important part of saying goodbye.
The area around Totnes and Buckfastleigh offers a landscape that many people have a deep connection with, from the River Dart and South Hams to Dartmoor and the countryside around our towns and villages.
For families considering a natural burial, Sharpham Meadow Natural Burial Ground, near Ashprington and around three miles from Totnes, offers an ecological alternative to traditional burial or cremation. The site is on the Sharpham Estate within the South Devon National Landscape and is open to people of all faiths and none. Further west is South Hams Natural Burial Ground in Aveton Gifford; providing a stunning backdrop for a funeral gathering.
Natural burial isn't right for everyone, but for someone who has always felt connected to nature, it can be a particularly fitting choice.
Technology has found its place too
Modern funerals can also bring together people who aren't able to be there in person.
SunLife's 2026 research found that 50% of funeral directors had seen families sharing web links or video apps so people could watch the service online. We’ve noticed that invitations to funerals are now often sent out via social media and sharing footage of funerals with loved ones over Zoom or Whatsapp is much more commonplace than ever.
For families whose loved ones live further away, the use of technology and livestreaming can be particularly valuable. Whilst it doesn't replace being there in person, it can allow someone who is unable to travel to take part in the farewell. We’re hugely in favour of tech enabling greater accessibility at funerals, even in the remotest of locations.
The cost of a funeral matters
It would be impossible to talk about modern funerals without acknowledging cost.
Funerals can be expensive, and families or friends don't always know what is expected of them or which elements are essential. The cost of dying has continued to rise, and nationally there has been a move towards simpler funerals and greater consideration of what families actually need.
A meaningful funeral doesn't have to include every traditional element. Nor does the amount of money spent have to correlate to the amount of love held for a person.
There can be different choices around the coffin, transport, flowers, ceremony and venue. Understanding those choices can help a family create something that is both appropriate and affordable.
Most importantly, families and friends should feel able to ask questions. There is no need to agree to something simply because it is how funerals have traditionally been done.
There is no such thing as a “normal” funeral
Perhaps the biggest change in modern funerals is that we are becoming more comfortable with the idea that there isn't one correct way to say goodbye.
A funeral can be quiet or lively. Religious or non-religious. Formal or informal. Large or very small.
It can include a traditional service, a celebration of life, a direct cremation followed by a later gathering, or a natural burial.
And sometimes a family or friends don't know what they want at first. That's completely understandable and normal.
When someone has died, there is an enormous amount to take in. You don't necessarily need to have all the answers when you first speak to a funeral director.
A modern funeral should reflect the person
For families in and around Totnes, Buckfastleigh, Ashburton, South Brent, Ivybridge and the wider South Hams, there are many different ways to create a meaningful farewell.
As an independent funeral company based in Buckfastleigh and Totnes, we believe the most important thing is to listen.
Every family or friendship group is different. Every person who has died has their own story, relationships, beliefs, wishes and personality.
A modern funeral isn't about abandoning tradition simply because it is old-fashioned. Many traditional elements will always remain deeply comforting and meaningful.
It's about having choice.
Choosing what matters. Leaving out what doesn't. Making room for the people, places, music, words and memories that tell the story of a life.
And ultimately, creating a farewell that feels right.
Because there is no perfect funeral.
There is only the right funeral for you, and the person you are saying goodbye to.
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If you are arranging a funeral in South Devon and aren't sure where to begin, we're always happy to talk through the different options with you. You don't need to have made all the decisions before getting in touch: 01803 840 779 & 01364 643 522
